Sound Off: Congratulations, bakers union

The following is what our readers sounded off about this week:

Congratulations, bakers union
Unions, I think you all should take a lesson from the Hostess plant. I want to congratulate the unions for bringing that company down, and I hope you proceed to do that to other companies in the United States. Maybe, just maybe, people might realize, and hopefully the unions will realize, that some of the demands are out of line. Congratulations, bakers union. Yay.

Trickle down does not work
Now that the election is over, I hope we can allow our leaders the opportunity to get us out of this mess. Something different has to happen. Trickle down does not work. Look where it has brought us. I do not buy that investors will decide to stop making money if they have to pay their fair share.

It belongs to the taxpayer
As a Geneva resident and taxpayer for over 20 years, I would like a refund of my portion of the $30 million school district surplus. It does not belong to the teachers or the school board, it belongs to the taxpayer. Please don't raise property taxes again this year, not even 1 percent. Operate Geneva schools on what you have now. It can be done, after my refund, of course.

You will find that out
This is for all the people who voted for Obama. I, for one, did not. We lost our jobs when Obama took office. We had good-paying jobs when Bush was around, and health insurance. Now, we pay our own health insurance, but we hardly go to the doctor. Why? It's because our deductible is very high so that we can keep lower premiums. So, thank you, people, for voting for him again. But what I'll say is that, after my unemployment runs out, we will take early retirement. The 30-year-olds and 40-year-olds are trying to figure out where to get a job. College education is not going to help you. We know that. But we're older. You will find that out. So, thank you for voting for Obama. We're stuck with the idiot for another four years.

Lots and lots of ghosts
It was very interesting to me that the movie, "Munger Road," was kind of a horror film. I do know that Army Trail Road was used during the Civil War days, and there are supposed to be lots and lots of ghosts along Army Trail Road. There were cemeteries where the Union soldiers passed away from different illnesses, malaria and pneumonia. And I know west of Route 59, there was an actual Civil War burial ground. And I hear there are lots and lots of ghosts because it was a Civil War burial ground. And I wonder if anyone there knows anything about these ghosts that are haunting a lot of these houses. I would appreciate it if anyone would leave a Sound Off if they have heard about this.

Post the salaries
I'm calling regarding the teachers in Geneva. I think it'd be interesting if you took the time to post the teachers' salaries in this town – the benefits, the raises, the retirement programs, the reimbursements. Put it in black and white. Let the people in the city see what the teachers are getting, see the raises that they've got, and let them be the judge and decide whether they make too much money or not enough money. I think it'd be an interesting thing to do in the Kane County Chronicle. There's certainly access to that information at Genevataxfacts.org.

Local assistance
Now that the elections are over and all of the political contributions have been tabulated, let's hope there is money left over for charities. The East Coast is getting federal aid, and all the major charity organizations are asking for money. Does it make sense for the Tri-Cities residents to send money to help benefit people hundreds of miles away, or is better to contribute to the local charities that have lost not only federal funding, but also state and county funding. When residents of the Tri-Cities contribute money this Christmas season, let's not forget that many local social service agencies need help as much as the victims of Sandy.

Box it up
On my way home from work, I happened to notice a lot of garbage thrown on the side of the road on Route 25, by the windmill. I thought maybe on my day off, I would go pick up that garbage, and since the person who threw it there conveniently left mail with the bag with their address on it, I would box it up and put it back on their lawn, since they conveniently gave me their address.

Taxing me out of my house
The teachers contract expired and the negotiations began. The teachers voted to threaten to strike, and then the negotiators reached an agreement and the contract was given to teachers to vote on. What's missing? The public cannot be informed or advised of contract provisions until after it is accepted by the teachers union and authorized by the school board. Why? Because of a confidentiality agreement between the board and the union. If we, the taxpayers who pay the bills, can't be told what's being offered, then why should the union members? We pay the bills, but [don't] get the money. Then, on the same date, we are told that District 304 supports a 1.5 percent tax levy hike. I think next time the contract comes up, the negotiators will have negotiations, then it should be turned over to the public to vote on before the school teachers get to read it. That way, we'll have some fairness. I can't afford to live here anymore. They are taxing me right out of my house. Maybe the teachers will go together and start buying up the property that we can't afford to buy.

Parents, talk to your kids
Knowing that when our sons and daughters come home from college next week, that they have been brainwashed by their left-leaning, socialist college instructors, we, as parents, need to take the time and the opportunity to help them realize what our country was founded on, and that we don't want to become a France, Italy or Spain, with similar problems. Talk about their future, personal initiative and how the student vote partly enabled four more years of the same problems, with a leader who preaches class warfare. Our sons and daughters need to hear from their parents, which, as we know, is part of our job.

More of a burden
I would like to know what businesses in Geneva don't pay property taxes. I know Delnor Hospital doesn't. What about doctor's offices and banks? For every business that doesn't pay property taxes, it means more of a burden on the homeowner.

• You can sound off, as well, by calling our Sound Off line at 630-845-5240 or by sending an e-mail to soundoff@kcchronicle.com. Calls must be limited to 1 minute or less.